Hi folks,
I'm new to the forums & am desperate for answers.

I have a 1998 Dodge Neon 2DR sport model with DOHC. Recently it began powering off completely - even headlights & hazards - while driving. Have to wait for it to reset itself before any electric works. Reset is anywhere from 1 second to hours. Resets even the radio, time, etc. it's like all electric is gone then it all starts right back normal. What can this be? The headlight, turn signals, horn, everything dead. Then suddenly its all normal. Can start & run it until it does it again.

Aftermarket items that have been on it since new: Clifford ignition interrupt device set to valet mode. All else is original or repaired mopar. Car had PCM update in 1998.

 

Welcome!

What do you reset? You would have to reset something or everything would start working again?

 

Welcome, first thing you will need is a FSM with wiring diagrams ( I can provide that if you need it.) it sounds like you have a bad splice somewhere in the harness. My '06 T&C had a similar problem. Is it throwing any codes? Try letting the car idle, grab hold of the large harness under the PDC (fuse box by the battery) and shake it/tug it etc. to see if you can force a shutdown. If that works, there may be a bad splice in one of the ground wires which means opening the harness and inspecting each splice. Start there and if that doesn't work, we can dig deeper.

 

I'm not resetting anything. I'm sitting in the car just waiting for the electric to come back: fan, clock, radio, horn, headlights, hazards, etc.

 

Towed it to the mechanic. Waiting for diagnostic codes on PCM. When it was dead, I tugged & wiggled wires all along the topside of engine. Nothing made any difference. I didn't try under dash. Will let you know if mechanic finds anything. First time it happened -- 2 weeks ago -- drove to mechanic & had him get all over wires above & below & all were tight & power never cut off for him. He said, "wait till it dies, tow it in, then I can find it." It died today & got towed.

I'm half-convinced it was the Progressive Snapshot Device that messed with my PCM or with the Clifford interrupt device.

But really: what can singlehandedly disable power to every component of the car all at once?

 

It could be a simple as bad/dirty battery connections or a bad ground. Check around the washer solvent jug Ive seen many cars with corroided wires in this area causing the same problem...

 

Sounds like a bulged splice that when exposed is all white powder. usually not far from the battery when there is one. Good luck finding it though.

 

Already checked batter cables. All tight & clean.

 

I would try it WITHOUT the clifford alarm

 

Hi. I thought I'd update you & thank you for the kind help.

I spoke with mechanic & told him about the Snapshot device that had been plugged into the diagnostic port below the dash. He went back to the car & removed all power to it. He let it set without battery until the PCM was able to reset & clear its memory. Then the car started right up and ran fine all day without any stalls or issues.

Word to the wise: beware of Snapshot devices. I've contacted Progressive & now have an adjuster to see about my claim against their device. Mechanic indicated that their device caused the error. Now I have to submit the receipts and wait for them to review my claim. The 2% discount was not worth the time nor the hassle.